Chapter 12: Fitness- and Health-related Careers in Physical Education and Sport

1. Chapter 12: Fitness- and Health-related Careers in Physical Education and Sport • What are the responsibilities of a fitness or exercise specialist? • What are the opportunities available for someone pursuing a therapy-related career? • How does one increase their marketability for fitness-, health-, and therapy-related careers?

2. Fitness- and Exercise-related Careers • Preventive programs • Specialists work with healthy adults to increase their level of fitness. • Corporate fitness centers, commercial fitness centers, and community agencies (YMCA/YWCA) • Rehabilitative programs • Specialists work with individuals who exhibit the effects of coronary heart disease focusing on attaining a functional state of living and an enhanced quality of life. • Most often found in hospitals, medical clinics or community agencies affiliated with corporate fitness centers.

3. Comprehensive Wellness Program Components • Fitness development and maintenance • Educational efforts • Health promotion • Lifestyle modification • Recreational sport opportunities

4. Program Aspects (Institute of Aerobics Research) • Medical screening • Fitness and lifestyle assessment • Goal setting • Supervised group programs • Educational classes • Motivation and reinforcement Why should these aspects be included? How could you implement each of these aspects?

5. Exercise Program Specialist Responsibilities • Direct program • Train and supervise staff • Budget responsibilities • Facility management • Marketing • Evaluation • Individual exercise prescriptions • Evaluate and counsel on lifestyle • Data collection and analysis

6. Worksite Health Programs • 46% of all worksites offer programs • 38% of small corporations • 68% of large corporations • Potential to reach over 110 million adults • Convenient for employees • Offers peer and social support • Economic benefits to corporations • Reduced injury rates, lower workman’s compensation costs, and reduced health care costs • Enhancement of workplace morale, retaining employees

7. Top 10 Worksite Health Promotion Activities • Job hazard/injury prevention • Exercise/physical fitness • Smoking control • Stress management • Alcohol/other drugs • Back care • Nutrition • High blood pressure • AIDS education • Cholesterol screening

8. Program Suggestions • Voluntary participation • Continuous marketing • Sensitivity to individual differences • Frequent evaluation • Modeling of healthy behavior by staff • Recognition and reward • Record-keeping • Balance between fun and clinically significant programs • Personalize the program

9. Commercial and Community Fitness Programs • IHRSCA • Club membership has increased by 51% from 1987 to 1996. • In 2000, there were nearly 33 million club members. • Growth of community programs • Programs for all ages • Toddlers and preschool programs have increased. • Programs for all abilities • For example, The Fitness Clinic for Physically Disabled at San Diego State University • The addition of wellness centers have allowed hospitals to take more preventative approach!

10. Personal Trainers • Work in private and public settings: • Conducting fitness assessments. • Developing specific goals with clients. • Designing programs for goal attainment. • Coaching clients through workouts. • Monitoring progress of goals. • New use of the Internet, email, and phone to hire personal trainers and report results for convenience.

11. Strength and Conditioning Professionals • “Assess, motivate, educate, and train athletes for the primary goal of improving sport performance.” (NSCA) • Competencies necessary in the areas of: • Scientific foundations of sport/exercise and nutrition • Exercise leadership and program design • Techniques of sport psychology to maximize performance • Risks of performance-enhancing substances

12. Rehabilitation Programs • Clinical exercise physiologists work mainly in hospitals and clinics. • Work closely with physicians to meet the needs of diverse clients. • To plan rehabilitation programs, they must be familiar with: • Medical aspects of clients disease or condition • Limitations faced by clients • Drugs commonly used to treat the disease/condition and their effects • Psychological aspects of exercise on the clients

13. Career Preparation • Education • Undergraduate and graduate education in exercise science, fitness and cardiac rehabilitation, etc. • Various certifications offered by: • ACSM • YMCA • AFAA • NSCA • Practical experience • Professional involvement

14. Athletic Training • Prevention of Injuries • Supervision of conditioning programs • Advising coaches and athletes • Assist with preseason physicals • Checking equipment and facilities for safety • Rehabilitation • Administers therapeutic treatments and monitors progress. • Motivate and encourage throughout recovery • Record-keeping of injury status and history of injury • Certification - NATA

15. Health and Weight-Control Clubs & Spas • Found at resorts, hotels, mineral springs, and cruise ships. • Are they only seeking your money? • Offer fitness activities, graded exercise tests, instruction in sport activities, exercise classes • Diet and nutritional counseling, stress management, massages • Growth of commercial diet centers focused on weight reduction.

16. Therapy-Related Careers • Dance therapy (ADTA) • Clients have freedom of movement and gains a sense of identity. • Encourages individuals to recognize and express their emotions. • Used with all segments of the population. • Recreational therapy (AAHPERD) • Concerned with problems of physically, emotionally, and socially disabled persons and with the elderly. • Using the techniques of play, it helps achieve appropriate goals for those in community and institutional settings. • Kinesiotherapy (AKA) • “…under the direction of a physician, treats the effects of disease, injury, and congenital disorders, through the use of therapeutic exercise and eduucation.”

17. Increasing Professional Marketability • Additional courses in health and related areas • Certification • ACSM, First Aid/CPR, NATA • Build on one’s interests and strengths • Develop areas of expertise that interest you. • Practical experience • Internships, fieldwork, and volunteering • Gain diverse experiences in settings and clients.